A research team from the University of Manchester has developed a testing system for disease-related antibodies.* Initially targeting a specific type of kidney disease, called membranous nephropathy, the system will soon be adapted for use with other diseases.

The new antibody test uses graphene (a thin layer of carbon-based graphite, the same substance used in No. 2 pencils) that is covered with a layer of protein and activated with receptor molecules for specific antibodies. According to Dr. Aravind Vijayaraghavan, lead investigator, this test offers a quick, inexpensive, simple, and accurate alternative to the antibody tests currently available.

“Our research has the potential to make antibody testing for various diseases more widely available, at the point of care like GP clinics or care homes, rather than just in specialist testing centers,” he said. While the prototype was made using an expensive, commercial-grade quartz-crystal microbalance system, the team adapted the design by creating a version using 3D-printed parts and custom electronic circuits. 

“Our own design…costs 100 times less than the commercial system,” said Dr. Daniel Melendrez, research associate. “Using our cheap and compact instrument, a healthcare technician can simply place a small drop of sample to be tested on the graphene-coated chip, and the test result will be displayed in as little as 10 minutes.”

Since the system can measure the concentration of antibodies in a patient’s sample, it can be used to discover:

• How severe the disease is
• How long the patient has had the disease
• Whether or not the patient has developed an immunity to the disease

The team plans to continue adapting the test for a wide variety of diseases, including autoimmune diseases, such as celiac disease, and viral infections, such as COVID-19. 

*Robinson, B. (2020, Oct. 26). New Graphene-Based Antibody Test Developed for Detecting Kidney Disease. [Press Release] Phys.org. https://phys.org/news/2020-10-graphene-based-antibody-kidney-disease.html